BRISTOL, Conn. — It was probably the best-played game in the New England Regionals but ended in heartbreaking fashion Tuesday for the Saco Little League team.

Luke Chessie walked Ryan Sargent with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, forcing in the winning run as South Burlington, Vt., edged Saco 3-2 at Breen Field.

Additional Photos

Anthony Bracamonte of Saco scores when a ball is misplayed Tuesday in the third inning of a 3-2 loss to South Burlington, Vt., at Bristol, Conn. Saco ended pool play with a 1-3 record but will advance if Massachusetts and New Hampshire lose Wednesday. Mike Orazzi/Special to the Press Herald

The Saco Little League team is in a wait-and-hope mode after losing to South Burlington, Vt., in the regionals. Mike Orazzi/Special to the Press Herald

Anthony Bracamonte of Saco forces Ryan Sargent of South Burlington, Vt., at second base Tuesday during their Little League regional game. South Burlington reached the semifinals and Saco still harbors hopes. Mike Orazzi/Special to the Press Herald

South Burlington (3-1), the only team here to repeat as state champion, earned a return trip to the semifinals. Despite finishing pool play 1-3, Saco could still advance based on a favorable runs allowed differential.

“Obviously it’s a very disappointing loss,” Saco Manager Todd Duchaine said. “They know that they can hit the ball well. Down here they’ve only seen it in the Massachusetts game but the folks back home know how good these boys can hit the baseball.

“It just seemed like every time we had a chance to hit the ball today we hit it hard right at somebody or we didn’t hit the ball hard enough.”

Neither team appeared nervous playing in a game televised by NESN, making just one error apiece. Unfortunately for Saco, its error came in the bottom of the sixth.

After Ethan Klesch led off with a single, Sammy Premsagar hit a grounder to shortstop Anthony Bracamonte but second baseman Brogan Searle-Belanger dropped the throw.

After a strikeout, Connor McGrath walked to load the bases and Sargent took four straight balls to win it.

“Whenever I come up to bat, I always take the first pitch,” Sargent said. “I noticed that (Chessie) wasn’t throwing many strikes so I’m thinking to myself, I’m going to take as many pitches as I can, try to get walked or get the perfect pitch and hit it.”

Searle-Belanger got the start for Saco and allowed two runs and three hits over 41/3 innings, with a walk and three strikeouts.

“We gave up three runs so defense wasn’t our issue,” Duchaine said. “We played some good defense, we got some good pitching, we just didn’t get the hitting we needed.”

South Burlington starter Ben Tate struck out six and allowed one hit over 21/3 innings, but was pulled after 35 pitches to keep him eligible to pitch in the semifinals Thursday.

Nicholas Liscinsky took over, and walked Matthew Duchaine and Timmy Smith. Bracamonte, who was 2 for 3, followed with an RBI single and Saco added another run when Searle-Belanger reached on an error.

South Burlington tied it in the bottom of the inning on Liscinsky’s two-run single.

“Maine is a tough team,” Burlington Manager Sean McGrath said. “(Searle-Belanger) really pitched well, had his good fastball, he had a good curveball and located well. They’re a gutsy team.”

Saco had a chance in the fifth when Derek Madore and Bracamonte singled, putting runners on first and second with one out. But Matt Guyette replaced Liscinsky, and got out of the jam with a comebacker and strikeout.

Guyette also closed out South Burlington’s win in the Vermont state final.

“I’ve come in to a lot of situations like that,” he said. “I’m confident I can get the job done.”

Saco finished with four hits, including a two-out triple by Andrew DeGeorge in the second.

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